Photographic camera.



C. BORNMANN.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED man, 1912.

1,033,525. Patented July 23,1912.

UNITED STATTlES PATENT OFFICE.

cram. sonnmsuu, or BINGHAMTGN, new YORK, ASSIGNOR TO )uvsco COMPANY, orBINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed February 14, 1912. Serial No. 677,516.

of too city of Binghamton, county of llroomgand State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, ofwhich the following IS a full, clear, and exact description. Thisinvention relates to improvements in c imeras and is especially usefulin connection with so-called folding or collapsing metzillic cameras,but is applicable also to many other styles and whether made of metal orother material. I

It has special relation to the construction of the rear part or coverplate for the camera and to the means whereby the same is held in place.The construction is such that several advantages are secured, amongthem, reduced cost, ease in application, simplicity in construction andreliability in use.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a vertical sectionalview taken through the camera. from front to rear; Fig. 2 illustrates aperspective View of the cover plate detached; Fig. 3 illustrates a rearelevation Fig. 4 illustrates an elevation of the lower end of the coverplate; Fig. 5 illustrates a vertical sectional View showing the lowerend of the cover plate in operative position interlocked with theappropriate part of the body part; Fig. 6 illustrates a view similar toFig. 5,'showing the operation of what I call the compression springyFig.7 illustrates a vertical sectional View of the lower parts of the coverplate and camera body, showing a modified construction.

1 represents the camera body proper. It consists of a rectangular woodenframe having rounded metallic end pieces 2, with con tinuous wooden sidepieces 3, 3. The met-allic end pieces form practically half of the wallsof the spool receiving chambers 4, 4, the other half being made by therounded ends of the cover plate. Between the spool receiving chambers isan open space 5 adapt ed to receive the bellows, lenstrame, etc, in theusual manner. These last-named parts are not illustrated in thedrawings.

Al. or near the focal plane the body part is provided with a rectangularframe 6 ha v- F mg the exposure opening 7 made therein This frame 6 hasledges, as shown, extending all around the opening, adapted to supportthe film in a manner well known.

8 is a metallic spring latch located in one of the spool chambers and 9is a lip formed in the corresponding place in the opposite spool chamberwith which the cover plate engages in a manner about to be described.

The cover plate (see Fig. 2) preferably consists of a single piece ofmetal, although it may be made of more than one piece and of materialother than met-a1. It is formed as -;shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, ithas a continuously extending central portion adapted to close the rearof the camera and on each side thereof is a flange 10, 10, and ateachend the structure is rounded, as at 11, to form part of the walls of thespool chambers. At the upper end there is a catch .or hook 12 adapted toengage in a hole 13 (see Fig.3) made in the spring latch '8 and at theopposite end of the coyer plate there is attached transversely a pieceof metal 14. Figs. land 2) which has on its edge a recessed flange 15and within the recess of this flange there is a longitudinally extendingflat spring 16 (see Figs. 4, 5 and (3). The groove in the flange is ofsuch size as to receive lip 9 formed on the body part. 17, 17, are twosprings which may be riveted, or otherwise securely fastened at one endto the cover plate, and each of which is provided with a pin and slot atits other end, so that the spring may be readily compressed. Any otherequivalent construct-ion may be substituted for that shown. \Vhen thecover plate is in o iieration, these springs bear upon the side ledgesof the frame 6 shown in Fig. 3. and since the film, when in position forexposure. rests upon these ledges, of course these springs 17, 17, aidin holding it in po rcnt to this spring latch 8 and on the inside of thecamera (see Fig. 1) is a small trans- -verse plate 21 fastened to therounded end of the camera body 6 and separated from it by a sutiicientspace to permit the entrance between the two of a lip 22 (see Figs. 1and 2) made upon the ad ining rounded end of the cover plate, so thatwhen the parts are assembled this lip can enter between this transverseplate 21 and the rounded endof the camera body and thus make a lighttight joint.

23 is a groove which extends down each side of the camera body, withinwhich the flanges i0, 10, on the cover plate snugly fit light tight,when the cover plate is in position. This groove 23 may be made eitherby attaching suitably shaped and rabbeted pieces 24, 24, to the insideof the side pieces 3 of the camera body or in any other suitable manner.The, object. of the construction is to afford light tight. interlockingof the side flanges of the cover plate with the rear part of the camerabody and it is immaterial in what special manherthis may be eliect'ed.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows:Assume the cover plate to be separated from the camera body. The stockand winding spools are placed in the two spool chambers 1, 4, in theusual manner and the black paper is led across the focal plane andconnected up also as usual; then to replace the cover plate, its

rear end is properly engaged with the lower end of the camera body byadjusting the grooved flange 15 of the cover plate in proper relation tothe lip 9 on the body part. Thereupon the cover plate and body part areswung toward one another, during which operation the flanges 10 of thecover plate will naturally register with and enter the grooves 93 in theedges of the body part and tion, the springs 17, 17, will take a bearingupon the side ledges of the frame-band of course upon the black paper orfilm which is resting upon these side ledges and the lip 22 on the upperedge of the cover plate will enter betweent'the plate 21 and the outershell of the body part. Thereu pfina slight pressure will cause thecatch 12 to engage with the spring latch 8, the end of the catchentering the hole 13 in the spring latch and when the parts are in thisposition, they will be firmly held together. with the outer surface ofthe cover plate flush, or substantially so, with the outer edges ofthebody part, and in attaining this position, the spring 16 (see Figs. 4, 5and 6} in the grooved flange 15 at the lower end of the cover plate willbe put under compression. thus completely filling the said groove andpreventing the passage of light and also putting all parts undertension, so that no space for the entrance of dust or light. will bepossible. .To again separate the cover plate for the removal of thespodls, or for any other purpose, pres sure upon the thumb piece 20 willdepress the spring latch 8, disengaging thecatch 12 therefrom. Thepressure of the springs 17 against the side ledges of the frame 6 willthereupon project the cover plate rearwardly and at the same time thespring 16- will slightly move it upwardly, thus presenting the edges ofthe cover plate for easy manipulation with the thumb and finger, wherebythe plate may be readily picked off from the rear of the camera.

I show a modified construction in Fig. '7. In it the grooved flange 15at the lower end of the camera, instead of bein made upon the coverplate, is made upon the body part of the camera, and the lower part ofthe cover plate is provided with the lip 9. This construction ispractically the same as that shown in the other figures and abovedescribed, excepting that the spring 16 is not employed. The operationis obviously somewhat difierent in that the engagement of the lip on thecover plate with the groove in the flange is made from the outsideinwardly instead of from the inside outwardly, as in the other case, andwhile this is somewhat more easy of accomplishment, yet the cover plateis not quite so securely held in place. The operation otherwise issubstantially the same as that above described, excepting that when thethumb button is pressed inwardly and the latch disengaged from thespring catch, the springs 17, 17, will move the cover plate rearwardlyand it should then be supported bythe hand of the operator. Otherwise itmight drop away from the camera.

Itwill be obvious to those who are'familiar with such matters thatmodifications may be made in the details of construction Theconstructions illustrated and described are two forms only of many inwhich the in vention may be embodied. I therefore do not limit myself tothe details of construction shown.

1. In acamera. a detachable cover plate adapted to fit against the rearof the camera body, interlocking parts on the cover plate and on thecamera body at one end and fastening devices at their other ends adaptedto be engaged after the interlocking parts have been interlocked.

2. Ina camera, a detachable cover plate having flanges on its edges, acamera body having grooves for the reception of the flanges of the coverplate, interlocking parts on the cover plate and on the camera body andfastening devices also. upon these two parts adapted to be engaged afterthe inter--- locking parts have been interlocked.

In a camera, a body part having par tially formed spool chambersseparated by a lens, etc., a detachable cover "plate adapted to fitagainst the rear of the camera and to complete the spool chambers,interlocking parts on the cover 7 ody at one end, and spring actuatedfastening devices at their other ends.

4. In a camera, a body part having partially formed spool chambersseparated bya space adapted to receive the bellows, the

lens, etc., and having grooves on its rear edges, a detachable coverlate provided with flanges adapted to t within the part and to close therear of the camera, the ends of the cover plate being rounded tocomplete the spool chambers,'interlocking parts on the cover plate andon the camera body at one end, and spring actuated fastening devices attheir other ends.

5. In a camera, a body part having partially formed spool chambersseparated by a space adapted to receive the. bellows, the lens, etc.,and having grooves on its rear edges, a detachable cover plate providedwith flanges adapted to fit within the grooves of the body part and toclose the rear of the camera, the ends of the cover plate being roundedto complete the spool chambers. interlocking parts on the cover plateand on the camera body at one end, an" spring actuated fastening devicesat their other ends adapted to be engaged after the interlocking partshave been interlocked.

(i. In a camera, a detachable cover plate provided with lateral flangesand rounded ends adapted to form part of the walls of the spoolchambers, a camera body having partially formed spool chambers and aspace for the bellows, the lens, etc., between them, the rear edges ofthe camera body being provided with grooves adapted to receive theflanges of the cover plate, interlocking parts and spring actuatedfastening devices upon the camera body and the cover plate whereby theyare detachably attached to each other.

7. In a camera,

grooves of the body a detachable cover plate plate and on the camera 1adapted to fit against the rear of the camera body, interlocking partson the cover plate and on the camera body at one end, fasten-- ingdevices at their other ends, and a spring put under tension when thecover plate and the body part are closed together, whereby the coverplate initially separated from the camera body u hen the fastcnings areloosened.

8. In a camera, a body part provided with spaces for the reception ofthe spools. nellows, lens and co-acting parts, a cover plate adapted toclose the rear of the camera and the spool chambers, means to dctachablyat tach the cover )late to the camera and a spring interposed betweenthe body part and the cover plate put under tension when they are closedtogether, and which initially sepia rates the parts upon loosening thefastening devices.

9. In a camera, a body part having separated spool chambers, an exposureopening between the spool chambers, a ledge for the support of the filmat each side of the exposure opening, a cover plate adapted to close ther*ar of the camera, and springs on the cover plate adapted to press onsaid ledges when the cover plate is in closed posi- -tion.

10. In a camera, a body part having spool chambers, an exposure openingbetween the spool chambers, a ledge for the support of the edges of thefilm at each side of the posure opening, a cover plate adapted to closethe rear of the camera and also to make light tight the spool chambers,and springs on the cover plate adapted to apply tension upon theedges ofthe film by pressing them against said ledges when the cover plate is inclosed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

, (ARL BORNh IAN \Vitncsses GEO. W. TOPLIFF, A. DEICHELMANN.

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